Student reaches out to YMCA after Lake Shasta incident

After a group of University of Oregon students trashed Lake Shasta last weekend, a university fraternity student believes he's found a way to help make things right.

About 90 tents and trash were found abandoned at Slaughterhouse Island Campground last weekend, according to the U.S. Forest Service, which ended up cleaning the mess that included empty liquor bottles, bags of food, plastic furniture and human excrement.

'We were all disappointed. It's hard to see something like that,' said Caleb Couturie, 19, a University of Oregon student and president of Alpha Sigma Phi.

'We know we made a mistake, but we want to fix it.'

Couturie's fraternity was not at the campground last weekend, he said. But feeling a sense of collective responsibility, he wanted to do something for Shasta County. He brainstormed with members of his fraternity and decided the best way to give back would be through something that benefited youths.

He called around a few places and got in touch with Shasta Family YMCA, where he learned about its summer project to send foster kids and children who live in single-room motels to Camp McCumber in July.

To fund this, the YMCA just scored a $6,000 grant, but it needs to equally match another $6,000 to send 40 children at a low cost or free of charge.

Kristen Lyons, executive director of Shasta YMCA, said community support for the camp fundraising has been great so far, and they've raised $3,000 already. Lyons said if more money is raised, they'll be able to send more kids to camp, since McCumber has the capacity. So when Couturie called asking how he could help, it all fell into place.

'We were thrilled. It seemed like the perfect partnership,' Lyons said. 'They saw a need, and it shows that they definitely care.'

Couturie was sent a list of supplies that included sleeping bags, water bottles, bug spray, flip flops, youth-sized bathing suits, sunscreen, flashlights, to name a few items that help kids at camp. Couturie said he's going to distribute the list, and depending on how people want to donate, he'll start taking in money and supply donations, and then either he or other members of his fraternity will drive down to personally deliver the items. 'It's great to see students coming together for one common goal,' Couturie said.

In addition to Couturie's outreach, the University of Oregon released a statement on its website Friday afternoon, apologizing for the Lake Shasta incident.

Lambda Chi Alpha — Zeta Omicron Zeta has accepted responsibility for the incident and members are planning to travel on Memorial Day weekend to help clean up Lake Shasta. They have other plans they hope to establish as well, such as partnering with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest through their volunteer program to raise money for cleanups, trail repairs and community education.

They will also partner with an environmental organization to do outreach with the university and fraternities to increase awareness about conservation efforts, and will continue to work with the U.S. Forest Service and the university in the ongoing investigation.